Disclaimer. I do not own Joan of Arcadia or any of its characters.
It had been a long day and Adam Rove was tired. In fact, he was exhausted. Opening an art gallery in a week will do that to a person. This gallery was going to be the best thing to happen to him. As he walked up the three flights of stairs to his New York apartment he was lost in his thoughts. Opening the stairwell door to his floor he was taken out of his trance by the sound of someone crying. As he approached his door the figure was sitting on the floor became clear.
"Grace?" He said with a worried tone. And he had every right to be. The last time he had seen Grace cry was his mother's funeral. "What's wrong? Is everything ok? Is it my dad? Grace. Talk to me."
Grace wasn't sure how to begin. After a long pause she began. "Rove, Girardi's is in the hospital."
Grace watched as Adam's face dropped. His heart sank into the pit of his stomach. Joan was hurt. "What? What happened? Is she going to be ok?" When Grace didn't respond, Adam became increasingly worried and began to shout. "GRACE! TELL ME WHAT'S WRONG WITH JOAN!"
After the initial shock of Adam's heightened tone Grace began, "she was in a car accident. They're not sure if she will live. I didn't want you to get some random phone message so I got in my car and drove here. I know you two had a fight, but you may never get to see her again and I know she would give anything to see you one last time."
Without a second though, Adam had Grace by the arm and they were headed for her car. The next thing Grace new she was driving back to Arcadia with Adam in the passenger seat looking scared enough for the both of them. Adam was lost in thought as usual. He was thinking about how he was headed back to the place and the person that caused him so much pain. But right now that didn't matter. He needed to see Joan.
Meanwhile at the University Hospital in Arcadia...
Helen could not believe that she was back here. She was beginning to hate hospitals. Joan had just left for surgery and Helen was not sure when the family would get an update on Joan's condition. While Helen slowly paced back and forth mumbling something about how God was cruel, Luke and Kevin sat quietly staring at the floor. Suddenly, Luke's phone began to ring. "Grace? Are you ok? Where did you go? You have us all worried sick."
"Geek, shut up. I went to Adam's were on our way back. How is she doing? Shut it Rove, give him time to answer. ... Well?"
"Oh, Joan is in surgery. They are trying to stop the bleeding in her abdomen. Grace, please hurry. I have a feeling Joan is going to need him."
"Don't worry. We are almost there. And before you say anything, I promise to drive safe." With that Grace hung up the phone.
Adam looked like he had just seen a ghost as they reached the Arcadia city limits. Reaching for his phone Adam stated "I should probably call my dad. He will want to know about Joan." With that Adam called his father and informed him of the situation. After the conversation ended Adam looked at Grace and said "He's on his way. He said he was going to stop and get some coffee first." After another long pause, "Grace, thanks for coming to get me."
"Don't mention it. She is going to need you. Everyone knows that, even you." Grace's words rang in Adam's mind. Jane needed him. That was it. She was his Jane and for the first time in 4 years, he wasn't angry to think about Jane.
Ten minutes later Grace and Adam were in the lobby of the hospital. After finding out where the surgical waiting room was they headed up. As the elevator doors opened, more then one Girardi was surprised to see Adam get out with Grace. Helen came rushing over, "Adam. Luke didn't tell us you were coming with Grace. We didn't want to bother you this week with the opening." Pulling him into a hug, "I'm so glad you are here. Joan has wanted to see you for years now. I just have this feeling she is going to need you."
"I know Mrs. G. I'm here now. How is she?"
Before Helen could get out a response, a very sad looking surgeon appeared.
To be continued...